En Gedi Vineyards (link) is in Calvert, Texas, which is on Highway 6 on the way to College Station from the DFW area. Calvert is a nice little town I remember driving through as a kid to get to my grandparents. Calvert has one of the largest historical districts in Texas, and the architectural styles of the houses are from all areas. It’s well worth a slow down and drive through the town. If you feel like stopping – En Gedi Vineyards on Main Street (Hwy 6) is easy to spot.
Now, I’ll admit a bit of time has passed since I visited, so trying to read my notes scribbled around the tasting menu was a bit of a challenge – but here’s what stuck out for me. Unfortunately, I don’t have pictures of the individual wines, but at the bottom are some general shots of the winery.
Brazos Bettie
Their Notes: Estate Grown 2019 Blend Blanc Du Bois/Lenior grapes. Off-Dry. Floral Aromas. Hints of Citrus, Fruit. Serve Cold.
My Thoughts: Peachy color with floral notes. Couldn’t define flower, as it’s too soft. Starts sharp/tangy and finishes soft and buttery. With the olives, despite pairing it became like a dirty martini. It’s really a background wine for porch sitting. You’ll chat and drink and not realize the bottle is gone. (75% Blanc De Bois / 25% Lenior)
Sauvignon Blanc
Their Notes: Texas High Plains 2019 grapes. Off-Dry. Serve Cold. Pleasant Hills winery winemaker.
My Thoughts: Their notes tell me little, and I have a note about Reddy Vineyards on this one. It has wet grass after rain scent. Crisp Apple finish. The Havarti brings out a floral taste (honeysuckle/jasmine?). Perfect for sitting on the porch with cheese. I’d pair with H-E-B’s pecan crusted trout or Shrimp Scampi. Solid Tuesday.
Montepulciano Carasuola d’Texas
Their Notes: Texas High Plains 2021 grapes. Dry. Aroma of dried cherries, strawberries cinnamon and citrus. Serve cool!
My Thoughts: The color is almost burnt orange – which my partner in wine noted is “amazing being so close to A&M.” Very tart flavor with dirt and new tires according to my partner in wine. The notes say the dried mushroom tempers the flavor. My notes say it smells of dishwater and dirt – so I wondered if the bottle had been open too long. It’s a Dry Rosè that I’d pair with the dried mushrooms from Costco (like they did) – but a solid Monday.
Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Their Notes: Texas High Plains 2019 grapes. Dry. Aromas of dark fruit, tobacco and leather, nicely French oaked (3 yrs). Taste of dark fruit and some black pepper. Serve cool.
My Thoughts: This drank more like a cab franc with good cinnamon and a dose of pepper. Solid Friday night wine. (More notes below)
Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Their Notes: Texas High Plains 2021 grapes. Dry. Fruit-forward, aroma of dark fruit, nicely French oaked (2+ years). Serve cool.
My Thoughts: Very berry scented (as expected from a cab sauv) with a spicy sweet taste. A typical “old world” cab (not that I really know what it means, but to those that know wine you’ll understand the reference. Good dark chocolate and peat moss. Smells and tastes like chocolate cherry cake. Will pair well with fatty meats. Unlike the 2019 it tastes “new” and so it gests a Wednesday/Thursday rating. Unlike the 2021 that I could just sit and sip while watching an old black and white movie – this one needs food.
Bellamente Caliente
Their Notes: Sangiovese grape. Dry, smoky and smooth with a touch of roasted jalapeño pepper. Server room temp.
My Thoughts: I’m always wary of wine that that has something added to it like fruit or vegetables. But this one got me. No too spicy and not too overwhelming. Smells like fresh jalapeños with a touch of spree candy on the tongue. Finishes smooth. Paired well with the fattiness of sausage with brings out the spice. It will pair well with H-E-B’s Texas Tornados on a Tuesday or Wednesday night.
Port Sullivan 2020
Their Notes: Estate Grown 2020 Lenoir Grape. Sweet. Double Barrel Texas dessert wine. 3+ years in bourbon barrel. Tastes of chocolate. Serve room temp.
My Thoughts: Smells of pecan and caramel – think millionaires. Fortified with brandy made by the winemaker. Won gold at the Texas Livestock show. It will sneak up on you – you can’t quite taste the brandy, so enjoy moderately with chocolate.
Final Thoughts
To be honest, I was on my way from a family funeral, so my head wasn’t in it when it came to pictures – but I am sad they didn’t have any of the Bellamente Caliente that I could take with me. I just knew my best friend would love it. We ended up not trying three of the wines on the list, including the sweet rosè, sangria and semi-sweet white.
All in all, it’s a nice winery in a small town that’s worth spending the afternoon in – especially if the Aggies aren’t playing well.
